Ex-SAD MLA puts up hoardings congratulating Congress

Jalandhar:If facts are any indication, apart from the Congress leaders coming to power after a decade, an ex-Akali leader from Doaba is extremely happy with the formation of Congress government in Punjab.

The newly-formed Congress government under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has got a fan in none other than the ex-Akali MLA from Phillaur (reserve) seat Avinash Chander.

Avinash Chander has put up ‘congratulatory message’ hoardings for Congress government in Jalandhar West constituency area, where his house is situated. The hoardings have been put up at prominent locations of the local Ravidass Chowk, Nakodar Chowk and Buta Mandi locality, which is an urban Dalit-dominated belt of Jalandhar.

The ex-SAD MLA has put up hoardings bearing the pictures of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, CM Capt Amarinder Singh and all the Congress MLAs from Doaba belt of Punjab.

Notably, Avinash Chander was at the forefront, when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on January 28. The ex-SAD MLA was present inside the Dera premises when Gandhi scion met sect head Sant Niranjan Dass along with the senior Congress leaders.

Earlier, after quitting SAD, Avinash Chander tried his best to join the Congress but last minute refusal by a section of Congress leaders from Doaba left him in the lurch. Many Congress leaders maintained that by putting up hoardings, Avinash Chander was trying to make a place for himself in the party.

Avinash Chander has even taken to the social media at the time of ticket allotment and shared that he was all set to join Congress. However, Capt Amarinder tweeted that they had no plans to induct Avinash Chander in Congress.

Congress leaders were of the view that Avinash Chander was facing Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe in the multi crore drugs mafia case and the induction of yet another ex-Akali leader other than former SAD MLA from Kartarpur Sarwan Singh Phillaur would affect the party’s winning prospects.

Avinash Chander who was sitting MLA from Phillaur was denied ticket by SAD after his name figured in the multi crore drugs mafia and summoning. He was still facing ED probe, as his family was also summoned by the ED sleuths recently. SAD has fielded ex-BSP leader Baldev Singh Khaira from Phillaur who won in his maiden attempt.

Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, Avinash Chander was not available for comments.